How to Get a Great Restaurant Meal – Even When You’re in a Rush

Photo by Rene Asmussen

You don’t always have a lot of time to dine out, whether it’s because you have a flight to catch or a show to attend, you may need to expedite your dining experience. While long meals are wonderful, there are occasions when time is of the essence. Here are some tips to help you navigate a quick meal without feeling rushed:

Some Tips and Tricks

  • Inform Your Server: Let your server know about your time constraints as soon as possible. While they can’t control time, they can assist in expediting your meal and service.
  • Decide Quickly: Look at the menu promptly and decide what you want to order. Be ready to place your order when the server first approaches your table.
  • Choose Wisely: Opt for dishes that require less preparation time, such as salads or items that can be cooked quickly. Seek recommendations from your server for the fastest options.

A Quick But Enjoyable Meal

  • Minimize Requests: Consolidate your requests to reduce the number of trips your server needs to make. Ask for everything you need, like extra dressing or utensils, all at once.
  • Request the Check Early: Ask for the check when you order your food. This allows your server to drop it off during their regular rounds, ensuring you can pay and leave promptly.
  • Pay with Cash: Paying with cash can expedite the payment process since you can leave the exact amount on the table and avoid additional steps associated with credit card processing.
  • Tip Appropriately: While tipping at the end of the meal won’t speed things up, tipping generously upfront can incentivize your server to prioritize your service. This gesture of appreciation may lead to quicker service throughout your meal.
Photo by Burak The Weekender

By following these tips, you can enjoy a satisfying meal without sacrificing precious time. Just remember to communicate your needs with your server respectfully and appreciate their efforts in accommodating your schedule.

Dig Into This Delicious Lobster Mac & Cheese

When we talk about comfort food, many start craving a good, hearty bowl of mac & cheese. Stingy pull, elbow pasta, and some seasoning are enough to turn your bad day around. To elevate your entire experience of enjoying a bowl of home-cooked mac & cheese, we are here with the recipe for luxurious lobster mac & cheese. Just by adding a new ingredient to your classic bowl of food, your entire experience will hit a new level of satisfaction.

Tips to Keep in Mind

While you prepare this extra cheesy meal for yourself, here are a few tips that can help you throughout the process. Firstly, always use a cheese block. It will melt so much better than the packed one, we promise! You also have the full liberty to choose any small pasta that you like and add it to this recipe, and that wouldn’t affect the taste or the experience at all. Lastly, if you are unable to put your hand on fresh lobster, you can choose canned lobsters instead.

The Devine Recipe

Servings

8

Total Time

40 mins

Ingredients

● Cavatappi ( or other small pasta) – 1lb.

● Butter – ¼ cup

● All-purpose flour – ¼ cup

● Milk – 2 ½ cups

● Kosher salt – as per taste

● Grounded black pepper

● Nutmeg – a small pinch (optional)

● Cooked and chopped lobster – 1lb.

● White Cheddar (shredded) – 1 ½ cups

● Fontina (shredded) – 1 cup

● Parmesan (shredded) – ¾ cup

● Breadcrumbs – ½ cup

● Extra virgin olive oil – 1 tbsp

● Parsley (chopped) – for garnish

Method

Step 1:

Start by preheating your oven to 375°. Add a pot of water and put it on a high flame. Let the water bowl and add salt and cavatappi to it. Cook it until al dente and then drain it.

Step 2:

In another large saucepan, add butter and let it melt over medium heat. Next, sprinkle some all-purpose flour and sauté it until it turns brown. Then, add milk to this and keep whisking until you get a smooth consistency. Now, add salt, pepper, and nutmeg and simmer it down to form a slightly thick sauce.

Step 3:

Take the pan off the heat and start folding in all the cheeses. Remember, you only need to add ½ cup of parmesan here. Mix it until smooth, and then drop in your cavatappi and cooked lobster. Now that everything is mixed well, transfer it to a 9×13” baking dish.

Step 4:

In a separate bowl, add breadcrumbs, remaining parmesan, salt, pepper, and olive oil, and mix well. Next, spread it all over pasta and then bake this delicious meal for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.